Bihar election: Tejashwi Yadav to be Mahagathbandhan’s CM face? All eyes on joint presser today

The Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance in Bihar seems to have finally ironed out its differences over seat-sharing in the upcoming assembly elections and arrived at a consensus over its chief ministerial candidate, after days of squabbling, urgent calls and rushed visits.

 

The Mahagathbandhan, comprising Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Left parties, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and Indian Inclusive Party (IIP), is set to hold a joint press conference at Hotel Maurya in Patna today. Speculations are rife that RJD scion Tejashwi Yadav will be projected as the alliance’s CM face in a show of unity, and the announcement regarding the seats each party will contest will be made.

 

The development comes a day after Yadav held a presser in Patna, to promise a slew of welfare schemes, including women-centric programmes, if voted to power. He said that all contractual workers in Bihar government departments and around 2 lakh 'community mobilisers' among 'Jeevika Didis' will be made permanent if the INDIA bloc comes to power in Bihar. He also promised the 'community mobilisers' a monthly salary of Rs 30,000, and that interest on loans which 'Jeevika Didis' have taken will be waived if the opposition alliance forms the government in the state. He also added that all 'Jeevika Didis' in the state will be given Rs 5 lakh health insurance cover. The RJD leader had earlier promised a government job for every household in the state "within 20 months of assuming power in the state".

 

The day also saw senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot flying down to hold talks with RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, apparently under instructions from the party's top leadership. Accompanied by AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Gehlot met Prasad at his 10, Circular Road residence, and later accompanied Yadav to 1, Polo Road, for rounds of talks which leaders of both parties described as "positive and fruitful".

 

It remains to be seen whether the joint press conference will address the fact that in five seats, both RJD and Congress candidates are in the fray, while in three others, the Congress is pitted against alliance partner, the CPI. Gehlot, while addressing the media yesterday, chose to downplay the fact. “If there is a friendly fight in five or ten seats out of 243, it is not something very big. We are going to take on the NDA as a team,” he said.

 

Interestingly, he evaded questions on Tejashwi Yadav being projected as Mahagathbandhan’s CM candidate. "Do not expect such an announcement from me. Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi have great mutual understanding. Their chemistry was for all to see during the Voter Adhikar Yatra."

India